Hammer mechanism used in driving sheathing



June 23, 1925.

R. J. REIGELUTH ET AL HAMMER MECHANISM USED IN DRIVING SHEATHING Filed Nov. 8. 1924 Am H m e I Patented June 23, 1925.

STATES RAY J. REIGELU'TH, on NEW HAVEN, Am) WILLIAM PGWE'LL, or HMiDEN, connnorrco'r.

Application filed November 8, 1924. Serial No. 748,757.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, RAY J. 'REIGELUTII, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, and \VILLIAM POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamden, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Improved Hammer Mechanism Used in .Driving Sheathing, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a new and improved method of driving sheathing and hammer mechanism used in connection therewith.

Our invention is particularly adapted for use inconnection with the driving of metal. sheathing, or the like, but, of course, is not limited to. suchuse, although so illustrated.

t is the object of this invention, among other things, toprovide a simple method for so associating a'hammer with a section of sheathing, or the like, that it will maintain its correct relation with the sheathing against which its blows are directed during the entire driving operation; and to provide an economical device that will function in such manner that it may be readily positioned and taken down, will hold and retain the hammer automatically in such relation to one section of sheathing that it may act thereon without the aid of the usual retaining mechanism, and which will automatically follow the section of sheathing as it is driven farther into the, ground.

To these, and other ends, our invention consists in the new and improved method hereinafter described and a hammer mechanism, having certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described and 'more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hammer having our improved mechanism attached thereto and shown in operative relation with sections of metal sheathing;

Figure 2 is a detail elevation of the hammer and our improved device connected therewith;

Figure 3 is a another elevation thereof; and

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the hammer mechanism.

In the drawings, the reference numerals 10, 11 and 12 indicate sections of metal sheathing which have curved edges 13 whereby one section may have an interlocking engagement with another section, as

shown. This sheathing has heretofore been driven into the ground by a steam hammer supported usually by a derrick or similar device and held against lateral movement by timbers or the like. Frequently these timbers, as well as the steam hammer, must be held in position by manual means. When such means are used, the operator must constantly watch the hammer while in operation to insure its proper functioning and that the blows delivered thereby are direct as distinguished from tangential or glancing blows. All the means heretofore devised for driving sheathing with a hammer or the like are also limited to such sheathing as is driven vertically and cannot be used when the sheathing is in any other position than vertical.

In our device herein shown, the hammer is held in position without the aid of timbers'or supporting cables, ropes, or the like, and automatically drives a section of sheathing down to the desired depth without any further attention whatsoever from an operator.

We have shown in the drawings-a conventional form of steam hammer, which consists essentially of a central cylinder 14, an upper cylinder 15, and a lower cylinder 16. Steam is admitted to the central cylinder upon one side and exhausted through the opening 17 upon the other side. Mounted within these cylinders is a steam actuated piston, not shown, which functions with the anvil plate 18. v

Connected with the upper cylinder 15 is a head plate 19, through which is an eye 20 to provide convenient means for securing a hoo or the like of a lifting device, whereby the steam hammer may be raised and lowered and moved about while being positioned. 1

Connected with the lower end of the steam hammer are lugs 21, upon the inner faces of which are wearing plates 22 having an open space therebetween slightly Wider than the thickness of a section of sheathing.

The parts above described are old and well known in the art and require no further description herein. I

Our improved device consists essentially of a guide plate 23, which in cross section is curved to conform substantially with the curve of the edges of a section of sheathing so that it will fit into one of such edges substantially as one section of sheathing lits in and engages the edge of the next adjoining section. Near the opposite ends of this guide plate are secured the cross heads 2 1 having openings therein, and through which project the ends of the yoke bar 25, in the manner shown, and by means of the nuts 26 are rigidly secured thereto. lVe have shown two of the yoke bars embracing the steam hammer that cooperate to rigidly secure the guide plate thereto, but a greater number of such yoke. bars and cross heads may be used if desired.

In operation, the hammer is placed in position substantially as shown in Figure 1, that is with the two sheathing sections 12 projecting upwardly between the plates 22 and theunderside of the anvil plate 18 resting upon the top thereof with the guide plate23 having an intermeshing engagement with the adjacent sheathing section 11. By this means the hammer is held in correct alignment with the sheathing, the guide plate 23 preventing tilting thereof, and a positive, direct blow is delivered on the center line of the interlocking edges 13 at the upper-end ot the sheathing sections. The hammer, by its weight, always maintains its position on the top of the sheathing sections and therefore follows the sections downwardly as they are driven into the ground. The sections of sheathing are driven by this method and mechanism by the engagement of the guide with the curved edges of the adjacent section which maintains the hammer in alignn'ient not only with sections being driren but with the adjacot sections. These operatioi'is are con tinued nntit all the sections have been driven.

()byiouslr, as the hammer is aligned and held by the sheathing, and if the same is l..ven on an angle to the vertical, it will operate on this same angle and deliver direct blows upon the end of the sheathing without the aid or assistance of other mechanisms.

There are minor changes and alterations that may be made within our invention, aside from those herein suggested, and we would therefore have it understood that we engagement solely with adjacent sheathin 2. In mechanism for associating a hammer in operative relation to sheathing; a cross head; means for attaching the cross head to the hammer; and a guide plate connected with the cross head.

3. in mechanism for associating a hammer in operative relation with sheathing; a plurality of cross heads arranged in the same plane; means for separably securing the cross heads to the hammer; and a guide plate connected with the cross heads.

4. In mechanism for associating a hammer in operative relation with sheathing; a plurality of cross heads arranged in the same .plane; means for separably securing the cross heads to the hammer; and a curved guide plate connected with the cross heads.

5.111 mechanism of the character described, one or more cross heads connected with a hammer; a yoke bar connected with each of the cross heads, whereby the same are rigidly secured to the hammer; and a guide plate connected with the cross heads.

6. In combination with sheathing having grooved edges and a hammer for driving the sheathing; a guide plate connected with the hammer that has an intermeshing engagement with a grooved edge of the sheath ing; and means for securing the guide Fiate to the hammer.

in testimony whereof, we have hereunto afiixed our signatures. 

